Acompañar una doble hospitalización en pandemia: la experiencia de padres con bebés hospitalizados mientras las madres se encuentran hospitalizadas por COVID-19 / Supporting a double hospitalization during the pandemic: The experience of fathers whose infants were hospitalized while their mothers were also hospitalized due to COVID-19

Introducción. La hospitalización de un hijo en la unidad de pacientes críticos neonatal puede ser altamente estresante para padres y madres, lo cual se intensificó en el contexto de la pandemia por COVID-19. A la fecha, no se han encontrado estudios que describan la experiencia de padres que vivieron la doble hospitalización simultánea de su pareja y de su hijo/a al nacer, durante la pandemia por COVID-19. Objetivos. Explorar la vivencia de los padres de tener a sus hijos/as hospitalizados en Neonatología mientras su pareja se encontraba hospitalizada por agravamiento de COVID-19. Población y método. Cuatro entrevistas semiestructuradas fueron realizadas y analizadas mediante un análisis interpretativo fenomenológico. Resultados. Se identificaron cuatro momentos cuando surgieron emociones específicas: a) inicio del contagio, b) hospitalización de la pareja, c) nacimiento del bebé y d) hospitalización del bebé. Culpa, miedo, angustia de muerte, soledad e incertidumbre aparecen muy tempranamente y luego se combinan con emociones como felicidad y empoderamiento, entre otras. La falta de contacto físico con sus parejas e hijos, y las fallas en la comunicación con los equipos de salud se destacan como factores que obstaculizan el ejercicio del rol paternal, mientras que una comunicación fluida con el equipo y una participación activa en los cuidados del bebé son factores protectores. Los padres cumplen una multiplicidad de roles, en la que prima el rol protector. Conclusiones. La comunicación y la atención centrada en la familia, y la participación activa en los cuidados de los bebés tienen el potencial de proteger contra el impacto de esta experiencia compleja de doble hospitalización.

Introduction. The hospitalization of a baby in the neonatal intensive care unit may be highly stressful for both mothers and fathers, and this was even more intense in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.To date, no studies have been found that describe the experience of fathers who underwent the simultaneous hospitalization of their partner and newborn infant during the COVID-19 pandemic. Objectives. To explore the experience of fathers who had their babies hospitalized in the Neonatal Unit while their partner were hospitalized due to worsening of COVID-19. Population and method. Four semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed using an interpretative phenomenological analysis. Results. Four moments were identified when specific emotions arose: a) onset of infection, b) partner hospitalization, c) baby birth, and d) baby hospitalization. Guilt, fear, death anxiety, loneliness, and uncertainty appear very early and are later combined with emotions such as happiness and empowerment, among others. The lack of physical contact with their partners and babies and failures in communication with the health care team stand out as factors that hinder the exercise of the paternal role, while an effective communication with the health care team and active participation in the baby's care are protective factors. Fathers fulfill multiple roles, the most important of which is their role as protectors. Conclusions. Family-centered communication and care and active involvement in baby care may potentially protect against the impact of this complex experience of double hospitalization.

Supporting a double hospitalization during the pandemic: The experience of fathers whose infants were hospitalized while their mothers were also hospitalized due to COVID-19. / Acompañar una doble hospitalización en pandemia: la experiencia de padres con bebés hospitalizados mientras las madres se encuentran hospitalizadas por COVID-19.

Introduction. The hospitalization of a baby in the neonatal intensive care unit may be highly stressful for both mothers and fathers, and this was even more intense in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, no studies have been found that describe the experience of fathers who underwent the simultaneous hospitalization of their partner and newborn infant during the COVID-19 pandemic. Objectives. To explore the experience of fathers who had their babies hospitalized in the Neonatal Unit while their partner were hospitalized due to worsening of COVID-19. Population and method. Four semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed using an interpretative phenomenological analysis. Results. Four moments were identified when specific emotions arose: a) onset of infection, b) partner hospitalization, c) baby birth, and d) baby hospitalization. Guilt, fear, death anxiety, loneliness, and uncertainty appear very early and are later combined with emotions such as happiness and empowerment, among others. The lack of physical contact with their partners and babies and failures in communication with the health care team stand out as factors that hinder the exercise of the paternal role, while an effective communication with the health care team and active participation in the baby's care are protective factors. Fathers fulfill multiple roles, the most important of which is their role as protectors. Conclusions. Family-centered communication and care and active involvement in baby care may potentially protect against the impact of this complex experience of double hospitalization.

Introducción. La hospitalización de un hijo en la unidad de pacientes críticos neonatal puede ser altamente estresante para padres y madres, lo cual se intensificó en el contexto de la pandemia por COVID-19. A la fecha, no se han encontrado estudios que describan la experiencia de padres que vivieron la doble hospitalización simultánea de su pareja y de su hijo/a al nacer, durante la pandemia por COVID-19. Objetivos. Explorar la vivencia de los padres de tener a sus hijos/as hospitalizados en Neonatología mientras su pareja se encontraba hospitalizada por agravamiento de COVID-19. Población y método. Cuatro entrevistas semiestructuradas fueron realizadas y analizadas mediante un análisis interpretativo fenomenológico. Resultados. Se identificaron cuatro momentos cuando surgieron emociones específicas: a) inicio del contagio, b) hospitalización de la pareja, c) nacimiento del bebé y d) hospitalización del bebé. Culpa, miedo, angustia de muerte, soledad e incertidumbre aparecen muy tempranamente y luego se combinan con emociones como felicidad y empoderamiento, entre otras. La falta de contacto físico con sus parejas e hijos, y las fallas en la comunicación con los equipos de salud se destacan como factores que obstaculizan el ejercicio del rol paternal, mientras que una comunicación fluida con el equipo y una participación activa en los cuidados del bebé son factores protectores. Los padres cumplen una multiplicidad de roles, en la que prima el rol protector. Conclusiones. La comunicación y la atención centrada en la familia, y la participación activa en los cuidados de los bebés tienen el potencial de proteger contra el impacto de esta experiencia compleja de doble hospitalización.

Hospitalisation in high-risk pregnancy patients: is prenatal attachment affected?

Objective: To compare prenatal attachment in women hospitalised due to high-risk pregnancy with prenatal attachment in non-hospitalised patients. To describe the impact of social support, socio-demographic factors and the nature of the pregnancy on prenatal attachment, anxiety and depression. Study Design: An exploratory, cross-sectional and descriptive study utilising the Maternal Antenatal Attachment Scale, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. The sample comprised 80 hospitalised and 88 non-hospitalised patients. Result: No difference in prenatal attachment was found between the two groups. The hospitalised group presented higher levels of depressive symptomatology and anxiety. Social support had a significant effect on the hospitalised group, improving attachment quality. Conclusion: Incorporation of members of the patient's support network may help to improve quality of prenatal attachment during hospitalisation. Detection and treatment of anxiety and/or depression in hospitalised patients is recommended given their impact on the mental health of mother and baby.

Is it possible to improve early childhood development with a video-feedback intervention directed at the mother-father-child triad?

Relationships with primary caregivers provide the context for early childhood development, and evaluating those relationships during the early years can detect difficulties that may influence future mental health. Video feedback is a valuable intervention tool in early childhood, both for family relationships and child development. An intervention was implemented using this technique, focused on mother-father-child triads that were experiencing difficulties in social-emotional development. Participants were 80 mother-fatherinfant triads (experimental group, EG=40, control group, CG=40), with children between 1 and 3 years old. Socio-emotional difficulties decreased significantly in the children who received the intervention (Wilks λ=0.930, F (1, 78)=5.907; P=.017). There was also an increase in psychomotor development in communication (Wilks λ=0.948, F (1, 78) =4.284; P=.042) and fine motor skills (Wilks λ=0.875, F (1, 78)=11.185; P=.001) in children in the EG compared with children in the CG.

Intervención grupal para reducir la sintomatología depresiva y promover la sensibilidad materna en embarazadas chilenas / Group intervention for reducing depressive symptoms and promoting maternal sensitivity in pregnant Chilean women

La sintomatología depresiva es frecuente en el embarazo y repercute en el posparto y en el vínculo madre-bebé. Se reportan los resultados de una intervención grupal de 5 sesiones para reducir la sintomatología depresiva y promover una adecuada sensibilidad materna. Participaron 134 embarazadas con antecedentes de depresión (grupo experimental = 88 y grupo control = 46). Se evaluó sintomatología depresiva (Inventario para la Depresión de Beck), resolución de problemas sociales (Inventario de Resolución de Problemas Sociales Abreviado), sensibilidad materna, cooperatividad infantil y riesgo vincular (Índice Experimental de Relación Niño-Adulto) en ambos grupos. Se observó una reducción significativa de la sintomatología depresiva, así como un incremento de las habilidades para la resolución de problemas sociales en el grupo intervenido. Este grupo muestra también puntajes significativamente mayores en sensibilidad materna y cooperatividad infantil, así como menores frecuencias de riesgo vincular en la evaluación postintervención. Se discute la relevancia de desarrollar estrategias de intervención durante el embarazo, considerando su impacto en la sensibilidad materna, en la calidad de las interacciones madre-bebé y en las habilidades de las madres para resolver problemas.

Depressive symptoms are frequently observed during pregnancy, and these affect the mother and her relationship with her baby during the post-partum period. Results are reported on a 5-session group intervention for reducing depressive symptoms and promoting maternal sensitivity. The participants included 134 pregnant women with a history of depression (experimental group = 46 and control group = 88). Depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory), social problem-solving strategies (Social Problem-Solving Inventory-Revised), maternal sensitivity, infant cooperativeness and bonding risk (Child-Adult Relatinoship Experimental Index) were assessed in both groups. The group intervened showed a significant reduction of depressive symptoms and an improvement of social problem-solving strategies. This group also shows significantly higher scores in maternal sensitivity, and infant cooperativeness, as well as lower frequencies of bonding risk in the post-intervention assessment. The importance of considering intervention strategies during pregnancy, including its impact on maternal sensitivity, the quality of mother-baby interactions and the problem-solving abilities of the mothers, is discussed.

Terapia de interacción guiada en díadas madre-bebé con sintomatología depresiva materna en el embarazo: un estudio piloto / Guided interaction therapy in mother-infant dyads with maternal depressive symptoms in pregnancy: a pilot study

La depresión perinatal constituye un trastorno del ánimo de alta frecuencia, que afecta negativamente a la madre y al bebé, y requiere una intervención dirigida a ambos miembros de esta díada. Esta investigación evalúa la aplicabilidad y resultados de una intervención piloto dirigida a fortalecer el vínculo y a reducir la depresión en díadas con esta problemática. Se estudian tres díadas madre-hijo/a, con sintomatología depresiva materna y se desarrolla una intervención psicoterapéutica breve utilizando el modelo de Interacciones Guiadas. Los resultados muestran una reducción en la sintomatología depresiva y un aumento en sensibilidad materna, cooperatividad infantil y calidad vincular. La intervención realizada resulta eficaz en las variables estudiadas, requiriéndose nuevas aplicaciones en muestras de mayor tamaño para confirmar estos hallazgos.

Perinatal depression is a high frequency mood disorder which negatively affects mother and baby, and requires an intervention addressing both members of the dyad. This paper evaluates the applicability and results of a pilot intervention to strengthen this bond and reduce depression in dyads with this problem. Three mother-child dyads, with maternal depressive symptoms and a brief psychotherapeutic intervention using the model of Guided Interactions were studied. The results showed a reduction in depressive symptoms and an increase in maternal sensitivity, child cooperativeness and relationship quality. The intervention turned out to be effective in the variables under study. Nevertheless, new applications over larger sample sizes are required to confirm these findings.